Tag Archive for: appraisal waivers

How Likely Are You to Get an Appraisal Waiver? Hint: Not Very :)

Why We Refused Refinances In 2020 This is a quick aside but a reminder that we stopped accepting refinance applications in 2020. It cost us millions in lost revenue but […]Read More

Do Homebuyers in California Need An Appraisal For The Home They’re Buying?

Unless you plan on paying all cash for your new property, you will likely need a home appraisal in California.  But “appraisal waivers” are becoming increasingly common now for certain types of financing, and we explain why below.Read More

Fires, Hurricanes, Appraisals & Delays; Agent Resource Guide

In Friday’s Blog, I mentioned how we were losing Appraisal or Property Inspection Waivers (PIWs) b/c of the fires in NorCal, but I made an error. Underwriters are not always […]Read More

No Appraisal Waivers In Fire Areas; Pest Reports Must Be Under 90 Days Old; Pre-Approvals Can Take 3+ Hours

Here are a few quick updates/reminders. APPRAISAL WAIVERS – NO MAS IN “FIRE AREAS” (Re-inspections too) We have been getting far more appraisal or property inspection waivers (PIWs) over the […]Read More

Why We Say A $2 Million Home Is Worth $999,000; Best Month Ever For Mortgage Rates

“PIWs” REIGN SUPREME “PIW” stands for Property Inspection Waiver or an Appraisal Waiver. We are getting more of them than ever before, making both refinances and purchases faster, easier and […]Read More

Why Do You Need A Home Appraisal For A Refinance?

Home appraisals are a valuable tool for homeowners who are pursuing a refinance. Refinance appraisals are used to assess a home’s value, determine the limits of cash-out refinancing, and establish how risky lenders will view the loan Homeowners should consider getting their home appraised in the process of refinancing because it helps protect their equity and get the most out of their loan.Read More

COVID-19/Mortgage Industry Update

Here are a few reminders and key updates that are warranted (despite some repetition) b/c the overall situation remains so fluid and b/c we are still getting so many questions. […]Read More

DANGER! Appraisal Waivers Can Disappear!

I recently blogged about the increasing occurrence of Appraisal Waivers. If a particular property is already in Fannie Mae’s or Freddie Mac’s database, it could be eligible for an Appraisal […]Read More

Appraisal Waivers More Common Now; Here’s Why

Prior to 2016, every mortgage required an appraisal.  That changed, however, in 2016 when Fannie Mae started to offer “Property Inspection Waivers” or “PIWs.” In 2017, both Fannie and Freddie […]Read More